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Hot dog! Tampa ranks as one of the most pet-friendly cities in the U.S.

Tampa also ranked fifth for the most veterinarians per capita.
 
Shannon Tillis plays with one of the many dog guests at Fuzzy Buddies in Tampa on July 5, 2013. Employees play with the dogs outside in large play areas that include a pool. [EVE EDELHEIT   |   Times]
Shannon Tillis plays with one of the many dog guests at Fuzzy Buddies in Tampa on July 5, 2013. Employees play with the dogs outside in large play areas that include a pool. [EVE EDELHEIT | Times]
Published Feb. 12, 2019

Tampa was ranked the sixth most pet-friendly city in the country, according to a report by WalletHub. Despite St. Petersburg’s many dog-friendly parks and bars, the city was ranked as #41.

WalletHub, a personal finance website, assessed the pet-friendliness of the 100 largest cities in the nation. To come up with the ranking, the site weighed factors in three main areas:

  1. Pet budget 
  2. Pet health & wellness
  3. Outdoor pet-friendliness

Read more: In search of a restaurant to bring your furry friend? Our food critic recommends these spots.

The pet budget category compared dog insurance premiums, veterinary care costs and the minimum pet-care provider rate across cities. The pet health & wellness category looked at factors including veterinarians per capita, pet-friendliness of the rental market and dog-friendly shops per capita. Finally, the outdoor pet-friendliness category looked at factors like dog-friendly trails per capita, weather and walkability.

Here are the top 10 pet-friendly cities:

1. Scottsdale, Ariz.

Lucy, a pug from Tempe, Ariz., struts her stuff along the catwalk in her princess outfit during the dog costume fashion show at the Canine Halloween Party held at In the Raw Coffee Bar, Juice Bar & Dog Bar in Scottsdale, Ariz. More than 60 dogs took part in the event, which included prizes for best costume and canine trick or treating. [Ralph Freso | AP]

2. Orlando

[Hilda M. Perez | Orlando Sentinel]

3. San Diego

Baseball fan Megan Lacter and her dog, Charley, pose for photos before a baseball game between the San Diego Padres and Miami Marlins. [J Pat Carter | AP]

4. Austin, Texas

This October 2013 photo shows Bridgette at home in Austin, Texas. [Courtesy Brande Bradshaw | AP]

5. Phoenix

Kevin Bishop, left, and Sheila Bishop, center, of Anchorage, AK, hike with friend Erika Keenan, as she walks her dog Winston, along a hiking trail in the South Mountain Park in Phoenix. [Ross D. Franklin | AP]

6. Tampa

Clyde, a west highland terrier, begs for some food at Mad Dogs and Englishmen in South Tampa. [STEPHEN J. CODDINGTON | Times]

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7. Cincinnati

Wiener dogs take part in the John Morrell "Running of the Wieners" at Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati. [Ernest Coleman | AP]

8. Seattle, WA

A dog crosses home plate as part of the Seattle Mariners' "Bark at the Park" night following a baseball game between the Mariners and the Los Angeles Angels in Seattle. [Ted S. Warren | AP]

9. Las Vegas

Elvis impersonator, Ron De Car and a St. Bernard rescue dog helped Linda and John Heffernan of Bergenfeld, NJ., renew their marriage vows in Las Vegas, NV. [PRNewsFoto | Times file]

10. Irvine, Calif.

In this photo taken Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014, coffee mugs are shown for sale at a cat cafe in California. Customers pay to pet cute kitties while sipping on tea or expresso drinks. [Eric Risberg | AP]

The WalletHub study also ranked individual categories, from the cities with the lowest dog insurance premiums to the most animal shelters per capita. Tampa ranked fifth for the most veterinarians per capita.

For the full ranking, visit WalletHub’s site here.

Read more: Want to bring your dog to bars, boat rides and ball games? Here’s our guide to pet-friendly fun.